System for automatically controlling the speed of electric motors



Nov. 22, 1932. I 1,888,569

SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF ELECTRIC MOTORS Filed Jan. 6, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ANGELO DELLA RICCIA mvsuron ATTORNEY NovQZZ, 1932. A. D. RICCIA 3 8, 6

SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF ELECTRIC MOTORS Filed Jan. 6, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ANGELO DELLA RICCIA' I NVENTOR ATTORNEY Now 22, 1932. L I A. D. RICCIA 1,888,569

SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF ELECTRIC IOTORS Filed Jan. 6. 1930 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY A. D. RICCIA Nov. 22, 1932.

SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF ELECTRIC MOTORS -Filed Jan. 6, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I NVENTOR ANGELO DELLA RICCIA ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 22, 1932 PATENT on-"l'ca ANGELO DELLA-BICCIA, OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM SYB'JLEM FOB AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF ELEUIBIG IOTOBS Application med January 8, 1980, Serial No. 43,888, and. in. France January '4', 1988.

.ine present invention relates to improvements in the system employed for the automatic operation of controllers for electric motors described in applicants application Serial l lo; 239,593. In said application, a system disclosed in which the controiler is automatically operated by a relay which is subjected to a difierential combination of a variable E. M. F. U constantly varying with the actual speed of the electric motors and a fixed E. M. F. U" dependent upon the operating position of said controlling device.

lhe im rovements according to the invention chie y consist in a multiple device for 5 varying the intensity of the action of said difierential combination in order to accelerate or to slow at several degrees the starting and the braking of the motors.

The accompanying drawings permit to clearly explain the invention. Fi 1 relates to the case in which the multiple device acts upon the device furnishing the fixed E. M. F. U. Fig. 2 relates to the case in which this device acts upon the device for constantly varying the E. M. F. U. Fig. 3 shows the combination of the device represented in Fig.

l with a starting and braking reversing device of known type. Fig. 4 shows another arrangement.

The invention which is shown in its general arran ement in Fig. 1 comprises two motors 11 an 12 controlled in the known manner by a controller 37 and a starting and braking n reversing apparatus 87 to prepare in the usual manner the principal connections required for the starting and the braking and to open or close the circuit; said controller 37 which is supposed to comprise an element 48 rotating on the axle 50, is automatically operated by 49 means of a relay 22 which in turn controls an actuator relay 36 of a s cial type adapted to displace the rotating e ement 48 by means of suitable mechanism 49' and driving gear 5455 and simultaneously the rotating element 48 by means of the coupling lever 55.

The said relay22 is .Sub ected on the one hand to the'action of springs 31, and on the other hand to the action of two E. M. F.s U

and U"acting upon it in opposite directions,

" U being proportional to (or a function of) the speed N of the train or other vehicle operated by the controller {or motors driving this vehicle} a U being chosen among a series med E. Ffs corresponding to thereguratin ste s or operating positions or the controller, 55 each M. F. U being equal to the value of U when the speed of the mover driven by the motor passes through a. special predetermined value in relation to the corresponding regulating step. This opposition of the E. M. F. U and the E. M. F. U upon the relay 22 is effected by the use of a multiple switch 54.- cooperating with a set of terminals (1) (2) (k1 (8} which are supolled with the difierent E. M. Fis n, and this switch isoperatively connected to the controller in such manner that the transfer from one notch of this latter to the other will cause the transfer of the switch from one notch to the other, thus changing the particular E. M. F. U which is opposed to the E. M. F. U.

The-E. M. F. U is generally obtained from a small dynamo 9 which is driven in a. suitable manner at a speed proportional to that of the mover or the motors 11 which drive the same. The different E. M. F35 U corresponding to the different notches of the controller are furnished by devices of a. somewhat variable nature, or" which the most simple consists of a potentiometric resistance 19 supplied by the tension V of the outside line supplying the motors; this resistance is subdivided into different parts having suitable proportions in order to produce the difierent E. M. F.s U between a common terminal 21 and difierent successive terminals (1) (2) (is) (8).

When the speed N actually attained by the motors exceeds the predetermined a corresponding to the notch k occupied at this time b the controller 37, by a. certain uantity the E. M. F. U will also exc the E. M. F. U by a certain quantity 1), and in these conditions the relay 22, acting u on the actuator 36, moves the controller 37 orward from notch 10 to notch k-l- I. On the contrary, when the speed N descends below the speed N. by a certain quantity M, the E. M. F. U will exceed the E. M. F. U by a certain quantity 2;, and the relay 22, acting the excitin ing in the contrary-direction upon the ac-' tuator 36, moves thecontroller back from notch k to notch k-l.

This forward or backward motion of the controller causes a corresponding forward or backward motion of the switch 54, in such manner as to appropriate the system to a new value of-the speed N of the motors, whereby the whole arrangement will continue tooperate properly.

As specified in patent application No. 27 9,593, it may be necessary 1n certain cases to modlf the scale of the predetermined speeds w ich control the transfer from one arrangements adapted to modify, in conformity with these variations, the intensity of the action due to the two E. M. F.s U and U which are in opposition to the fixed tension of the reaction s rings 31, which intensity may re resent the sensitiveness of the relays 22; t ese arrangements consist in insertmg, after the rheostat 24 by which the circuit of the otentiometric res1stance19 is closed, an additional resistance, or in changcurrent of the d amo 9. In the case in w ich these changes in the series of mean speeds are adapted to accelerate or to slow up t e starting and the braking, the

said device for changing the sensitiveness of.

the relay 22 may be operatively connected with the device adapted to change the series of mean speeds.

The improvements in the aforesaid arrangement according to the present invention chiefly consist in the ilse, in this latter case, of a device for accelerating or slowing the startin and the braking, which is of the multip e type, that is, it affords accelerations and delays at several degrees which may graduall increase by reason of a (gradual change 0 the series of mean spee s N and also in the use of a multiple device adapted to produce a corresponding change of the sensitiveness of the relay 22, that is, of the intensity of the action which sets it in op eration .(E. M. F.s U and U, and antagonistic spring 31).

In Fig. 1 the multiple device for accelerating or slowing the starting and the braking is constituted by a resistance 116 which is divided into several elements connected by suit able conductors to a set of contact pieces 117 said elements may thus be short-circuited or de-short-circuited in greater or less number by the slide or movable device 118 which is controlled 'b hand or by a servomotor. The said sli e may move upon a straight path, as herein represented, or on a clrcular path (as shown by 123 in Fig. 3 and .as will'be further described). The starting or the braking can be accelerated or slowed in a gradual manner between a very slow starting or a very rapid braking, and a very rapid starting and a very slow braking.

As concerns the device adapted to change the sensitiveness of the relay 22, it may consist of a resistance119 which is mounted in the circuit 23 of the winding of this rela whichis subjected to the opposite E. M. U and TI. This resistance 119 is also'divided into several elements, connected with contact pieces 120, which can be successively short-circ'uited or de-short-circuited, and the device for placing said contact-piece 120 successively in or out of circuit may be com-' bined with the one by which the contact pleces 117 ofnthe elements of the resistance 116 are I placedout of or in circuit, the slide 118 hav ing a suitable form for this purpose.

As shown in Figure 2, the multiple accelcrating or slowing devices with gradual action are adapted to act upon a resistance 121 which is mounted, in the excitiLrig-circuit of the dynamo 9 supplying the E. F. U: said resistance is divided into several elements connected by suitable conductors to a set of contact pieces 122 which may be successively placed in or out of the circuit by the slide 123 which is shown as movable on a circular path.

The tiveness of the relay 22 consists as before of a resistance 124 which is mountedin the circuit of the armature of said relay, but it will be noted in Figure 2 that the relay instead of being provided with a single armaturewlnding, comprises two windings WhOSGClICllltS device adapted to change the sensi- I switch 54 respectively. are closed by means of the ground wire 139. The resistance 124 which is then placed in the circuit of the dynamo 9 is divided into several parts connected to contact pieces 125 which are placed successively out or in circuit by the slide 123 above mentioned.

The devices serving to accelerate or to slow up the starting or the braking, and also the device by which the sensitiveness of the relay 22 is changed in consequence, is not necessarily controlled by a special handle, but may be controlled by the handle already employed to control in the known manner the starting and braking reversing device 87, or the starting and connecting device which may be substituted for this latter.

Fig. 3 is" all-example of the arrangement adopted in this case, and it shows how a more or less rapid starting or braking can be effected at will by the operatin of the correduces the in any other manner required by the other conditions specified in the application.

In this event, the starting and braking reversing device comprises, in addition to the part 87 which serves to prepare in the known manner the rincipal connections of the motors require for starting or braking, and to make or close the circuit, and herein two pairs of contact pieces 126-127 and 128 -129 will respectively short-circuit or de-short-- circuit the resistances 116 and 119 in a progressive manner.

For this purpose, the starting and braking reversing device has several successive starting positions (3,) to (S and several successive braking positions (B to (B instead of a single one of each kind, and the contact pieces 126127 and 128l29 have a notched form in such manner that they will enabled to act successively upon the difierent contact pieces 130 and 131 which are conn ted to the diii'erent eiements of the resistances 116 and 119.

In the position S the resistance 116 is ens tireiy shunted by the contact piece 126 (which increases mean speeds of starting and redncee the corresponding efiorts) and the resistance 112* is entirely placed in the circuit of the re 37 22 {which reduces the sensitive ness of apparatus} In this position, the starting In the the resistance 116 is entireiy pieces in the circuit of 19 (which remean speeds of starting and in 1 corresponding efiorts} and the .19 is entirely short-circuited by the contact i i which increase the sensitiveness 01 t. e relay 22. In this position, the starting is more rapid.

the intermediate positions S, S 8,, the pieces 126 128 short-circuit a greater or iess amount oi the resistances 116 and 119, and the starting is eflected with intermediate positive accelerations.

In the position 13;, the resistance 116 is entireiy inserted in the circuit of .19, (which iowers the mean speeds of the braking and recreases t resistanc.

duces the corresponding efiorts), and the resistance 119 is entirely short-circuited by the contact-piece 129, (which increases the sensitiveness of the relay 22). In this position the braking is the slowest.

In the position B the resistance 116 is entirely short-circuited by the contact piece 127, which increases the mean speeds of braking and increases the corresponding efforts), and the resistance 119 is entirely inserted into the circuit of the relay 22, (thus reducing its 116) the slowing up or the acceleratin sensitiveness) In this position, the braking is more rapid.

In the intermediate positions B B B the contact pieces 127 and 129 short-circuit a greater or less amount of the resistances 116 and 119, and the braking is effected with intermediate negative accelerations.

In the said device, a starting or a braking of a more energetic nature is obtained by simply pushing more or less far the handle which serves for the normal starting or braking. By this combination, the drivers controlling operation becomes more rapid and responsive.

If the starting braking reversing apparatus is not directly controlled by hand, but is under distant control by a suitable servomotor, more simple arrangements may be employed.

Fig. 4 shows an arrangement which may be employed in this case. 1

The starting'braking reversing apparatus (not shown) has only two ositions, that is, a starting position and a rakin position which latter is to be maintained during the operation on no currentand when the moving body is stopped. In the present example, the assage from one position to another is e ected by the operating controller 132 which has three main positions v (S),

Upon this controller are provided two sets of contact pieces 133 and 134 on the one hand and 135 and 136 on the other hand. The pieces 133 and 134 act upon the electromagnets 13'? and 138 which place the reversing apparatus in the starting position or in the braking position. The contact pieces 135 and 136 close the connections between the traction motors and the apparatus supplying them.

In the position 6 of the controlier, the reversing ap aratus is in the braking position, but t e aforesaid connections are broken; in the positions (S) and (B), the reversing apparatus is brought successively to the starting position while the connections of the motors are a ain established.

The starting braiing reversing apparatus 87 (Fig. 3) is indirectly operated by the operating controller 132, the pieces 126-127 adapted to efiect (by means of the resistance1 E o the starting or the braking, and the pieces 128 and 129 adapted to modify in consequence (by means of the resistance 119) the mnsitive ness of the relay 22, are mounted on the controller, of which the two extreme positions are subdivided into several (for instance from S to S, and from 13 to B To effect a more or less rapid starting or braking, the driver of the train turns the handle of the operating controller 132 (Fig. 4} to a greater or less degree in the proper direction.

\ When electric braking is not used, that is when-the equipment comprises, instead of a simple starting braking reversing apparatus a simple starting connecting apparatus, under direct or indirect control, the contact pieces relative to the braking 127, 129, 134,- 136 are eliminated and the contact pieces for starting, such as 126, 128, 133 are lengthened if necessary as far as the position Oof the 4 starting connecting device or of the controller operatingthe same (however with the exception of the piece 135 controlling the connections of 'the motorsxto the apparatus supplying them,. which are now permanent I connections) I claim: I

1. In a system for automatically controlling the speed of electric motors comprising in combination, a number of motors and their mover, a controlling device for controlling the speed of said motors and having a plurality of 0 eratin positions, means-controlled by t e spec of said mover for autocontrolling device for automatically im ressing said first and .one of the second E. F.s upon said third means to render said third means responsive to a difierential combination of said E. M. F.s-means to obtain a 4 progressive chm of the-sequence of mean Speeds correspon in to said controlling de- V106 positions in or er to realize a multiple device for the accelerating and the slowing of'the starting and the braking and thus to proceed from a given starting or braking to several startings or. brakings more rapid or less rapid than the first.

2. In a system for automatically controlling the speed of electric motors as defined in claim 1, means acting u n the means for supplying a plurality of e M; F.s to obtain a progremive change of the sequence of the meanto the controlling device positions. 7

3. In a system for automatically controlling the speed of electric motors as defined 'in claim 1 and comp as means for supplying a pluralityof E..M F.s sf tiometric directcurrent resistance wi plurality ptelementary" resistances, a et in series'wi the a oresaid for succ'easi short-circuiti g claim 1, means acting automatically generatmg a variable E. M. F.

short-circuit the several sive to acombined assasea ances in order to obtain a progressive change of the sequence of the mean 5 corresponding to the controlling dev ce positions.

4. In a system for automatically controlling the speed of electric'motors as defined in upon the means for to obtain a progressive change of the sequence of mean speeds corresponding to the controlling device positions.

5. In a system for automatically controlling .the speed of electric motors as defined in claim 1 and comprising as means automatically generating the variable E. M. F. a direct current dynamo, means acting upon the excitation circuit of said dynamo in order to obtain a progremive change ofthe seuence of the mean speeds corresponding to t e controlling device positions.

6. In a system for automatically controlling the speed of-electric motors as defined in claim 1, means to progressively change the value of the combined E. M. F. to which the means for advancing and returning the controller are responsive and means to change at the same time the sequence of mean spee s corresponding to the controlling device positions.

7. In a system for automatically controlling the speed of electric motors as defined in claim 1 and comprisin as means responsive to a combined E. M. of a determined value for advancing and returning the controller a relay su lied by a circuit in which the variable E. F. and one of the plurality of E. M. F.s are in opposition, a resistance divided in several parts and placed in said circuit, means to short circuit and dearts ofsaid resistance in'order to modify t e value of the combined E. M. F. to which said relay is respon-' sive and means to obtain at the same time aprogressive change of the sequence of mean speeds correspon mg to the controlling dev ce 'tions.

8. a system for automatically controlhng the speed of electric motors as defined in claim 1 and comprisin as means respon- M. of adetermmed value for advanc' and returning the con: troller a relafi 'ed by a circuit in which the variable andone of the plurality ot-E. M. F.s are in opposition, a resistance d vided in several parts and placed in said c rcuit, means to short-circuit and de-shortcircuit theseveral arts of said resistance in order'to modi e value of the combined E. M. F. tow ich said relay is responsive and means to obtain at the same time a pro-' gressive change of the sequence of meanco nding to the controlling device positions, and 'a single medium control-- hng said. both means inagreement I 9.,In a system for'automatically control- V hug the speed ofelectric motors as; defined 

